About Us

 Marc Burrows, MSW, LMSW, CPSS, ADC, is a harm reductionist and drug user health advocate, using his own lived experience with substance use, the treatment industry, and the criminal justice system to inform his approach in practice. Marc's entrance into the SUD field was advocating for MAT/MOUD; to reduce stigma and expand access to these medications. In 2016 Marc founded Challenges Inc SC as the first syringe service program in SC, out of the desire to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among people who inject drugs. 

Lysandra Ryan, CPSS, is a Harm Reduction worker who was born in South Carolina, but began her work in the field in Canada during the pandemic. There, she joined a street outreach team composed of people with lived and living experience, responding compassionately to overdoses, distributing clean supplies, supervising consumption, providing referrals, and serving as an alternative to police. In 2024, Lysandra returned to upstate South Carolina and began work as a Harm Reduction Specialist with Challenges Inc SC. Inspired by her own experiences, she is committed to reducing stigma among marginalized communities, ensuring people stay safe and alive and feel seen and heard.  

Raymond Velazquez-Turner is a public health leader and harm reduction advocate committed to advancing health equity through community-centered, low-barrier approaches. He serves as Program Administrator with Challenges Inc SC, supporting the growth of accessible, participant-driven harm reduction services. He grounds his work in his lived experience as a former sex worker, a person living with HIV, someone who has experienced homelessness, and a person who uses drugs. He advocates for intersectional approaches that recognize the connection between race, sexuality, gender identity, housing, substance use, and health outcomes.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his husband, their two French bulldogs, and visiting National Parks.

 Tina Kasson is a Harm Reduction worker who is passionate about changing the conversation around drug use. As a Harm Reduction Specialist at Challenges Inc SC, she draws on her educational background in social work and lived experience to replace judgment with genuine human connection. Tina’s work is rooted in the belief that safety and bodily autonomy are basic human rights. Having experienced stigma from the very systems meant to offer support, she knows firsthand that the war on drugs is often fought through isolation and shame. Tina is dedicated to breaking down these barriers by embracing radical acceptance in the face of punitive measures. She is all about creating a safe environment where people can reclaim their inherent value and make informed decisions about their health. 

Kris Stepp serves as the Program Manager for Challenges Inc. SC. A dedicated advocate who began as a volunteer in 2020, Kris’s work is fueled by the personal mission of preventing accidental Fentanyl overdoses—a cause close to his heart after losing his own daughter.

With multi-state experience operating Syringe Service Programs (SSP), Kris’s heart remained in South Carolina, and he eventually returned home to lead local harm reduction efforts. Now in what he considers his "dream job," Kris combines his lived experience with professional expertise to manage community outreach and advocate for evidence-based care. He views his career not just as a profession, but as a vital service to ensure no other family has to endure an unnecessary loss.